29.08.2016

Mix & Match

Yes you can… choose your insulation, thanks to universal compatibility between Lafuma’s insulation layers and jackets. Make the right choice for a weekend in London, a hike in the Pyrenees, or simply going to work in the morning. The Mix&Match system required our designers to be particularly rigorous when engineering the collections. Let’s look closer.

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control your thermal comfort

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Being able to pick the insulation liner for your jacket and match the duo you want is not a new idea – indeed Lafuma explored the concept years ago. “The benefit is being able to control your thermal comfort,” says product manager Aurélie Vignot. “Which lets you adapt to temperature variations with the changing seasons and based on activities of varying intensity.”

But applying this compatibility consistently (more than half the range is Mix&Match, and the proportion is rising yearly) is a challenge few brands can meet. “The key is having connections, especially the zips, which are always compatible,” explains product manager Michaël Svitex, “and that means working with our suppliers so they deliver products with identical connections.”

Being able to pick the insulation liner for your jacket and match the duo you want

The benefit is being able to control your thermal comfort

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Which lets you adapt to temperature variations with the changing seasons and based on activities of varying intensity.

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The warmth you want

“We identified a type of zip we could use on all our models. It’s fairly complicated, as two zips of equal length will have different numbers of teeth, depending on which factory made them,” says Michaël. “For example, the zip on a size L fleece is 64 cm long, and to be matched with a jacket in the collection, it must have the same number of teeth.” So when product managers design a new model, their starting-point is… the zip!

The proportions must also be checked for compatibility. For instance, adds Michaël, “it would be a mistake to propose a snug-fitting fleece with a very wide-cut jacket.” But this extra design constraint doesn’t weigh heavy in the balance, given the success of a concept that lets you adapt your liner to external temperature, rustle up your own style combinations, build the jacket you want, and play the durability card. “You can replace the fleece gilet without having to buy another protective jacket, because the jacket lasts for longer,” concludes Michaël. The Mix&Match method offers nothing but benefits!